Sensors for a portable device

ABSTRACT

A portable sensing system device and method for providing microwave or RF (radio-frequency) sensing functionality for a portable device, the device comprising: a portable device housing configured to be carried by a user; and a sensing unit within said housing con-figured to characterize an object located in proximity to the portable system, said sensing unit comprising: a wideband electromagnetic transducer array said array comprising a plurality of electromagnetic transducers; a transmitter unit for applying RF signals to said electromagnetic transducer array; and a receiver unit for receiving coupled RF signals from said electromagnetic transducers array.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to microwave sensors and morespecifically, but not exclusively, to microwave sensors for mobiledevices and systems.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In recent years, the different types and the use of mobile devices hasincreased remarkably. If previously they included a limited group oftelephones and laptop computers, it has now expanded to include, amongothers, smart phones, cellular phones, tablet devices, media players,portable gaming devices, digital cameras and laptop computers.

There are many causes to the proliferation of the use of these devices.One main reason is their size and weight. In the past, mobile deviceswere often heavy, large and/or cumbersome. Today, mobile devicesmanufactures compete with each other in how compact and lightweight theyare.

Another reason is the relative ease and speed in which people canconnect to the internet, which has become the new standard. Now peoplenot only appreciate fast internet but need it and demand it. Even placeswith relatively poor infrastructure have maintained an ability toconnect online via old and new technology, such as WiFi, WiMAX, LTE andothers. Mobile devices make internet connectivity constantly accessible.

As mobile devices, such as smart phones and tablets become ubiquitous,the scope of their functions has broadened. People utilize their mobiledevices for a plethora of actions and are constantly looking for moreuses. For example, today, many mobile devices include extensivephotographic systems, enabling, the user to take digital images andvideos with cameras built into the device. These built-in cameras areoften of high quality, with the ability to take photos and videos incolor and with high resolution. These images can then be displayed,shared and modified, through various media.

With the growth of cloud storage capabilities and their easy access,mobile devices provide a practical tool for data accessibility.Furthermore, the advent and subsequent plenitude of applications for awide spectrum of tasks, created specifically for use on mobile deviceshave further increased the dependence on these devices.

Mobile devices, while prolific and abundant as described above, havemuch potential to actualize. The medical profession and various otherindustries as well as the layman could benefit from further explorationof uses.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sensor such as amicrowave radar or a capacitive sensor configured to be attached orincorporated into a mobile or portable device.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a methodand system that will allow obtaining information, for example but notlimited to, testing of a drug to see if it has been tampered with, usinga portable devise such as mobile phone or a tablet.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a portable sensing system comprising: a portabledevice housing configured to be carried by a user; and a sensing unitwithin said housing configured to characterize an object located inproximity to the portable system, said sensing unit comprising: awideband electromagnetic transducer array said array comprising aplurality of electromagnetic transducers; a transmitter unit forapplying RF (radio-frequency) signals to said electromagnetic transducerarray; and a receiver unit for receiving coupled RF signals from saidelectromagnetic transducers array.

In an embodiment said plurality of electromagnetic transducers areantennas.

In an embodiment said antennas are selected from a group consisting of:flat spiral antennas, printed log periodic antennas, sinuous antennas,patch antennas, multilayer antennas, waveguide antennas, dipoleantennas, slot antennas, Vivaldi broadband antennas.

In an embodiment, said wideband electromagnetic transducer array is aMIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antenna array.

In an embodiment, said plurality of electromagnetic transducers arecapacitive sensor plates.

In an embodiment, said wideband electromagnetic transducer array is acapacitive sensor array.

In an embodiment, said capacitive sensor array comprises a plurality offeed lines and a plurality of receive lines wherein the plurality offeed lines are coupled to the receive lines through an electromagneticfield formed between at least two capacitive sensor plates saidcapacitive sensor plates connected to said feed and receive lines,wherein the capacitive sensor plates are configured to identify orquantitatively characterize the object.

In an embodiment, said object is located within the formedelectromagnetic field.

In an embodiment, the sensor unit comprises a plurality of layers,wherein the feed lines are placed it separate layers and are connectedto the sensing plates through vertical holes said holes interconnectingthe layers and wherein a plurality ground layers are located between andaround the layers.

In an embodiment, a sensing area is formed between two adjutant capacityplates.

In an embodiment, the capacitive sensor array is formed as a gridstructure.

In an embodiment, the portable sensing system comprises a dataacquisition unit for collecting and digitizing said coupled RF signals.

In an embodiment, the data acquisition unit is configured to tag thecoupled RF signals according to the electromagnetic transducer arraycombination and the time at which the coupled RF signals were collected.

In an embodiment, the portable sensing system comprises a processingunit said processing unit is configured to convert the RF signals into aset of responses said responses characterizing the object, and convertthe set of responses into data.

In an embodiment, said date is image data.

In an embodiment, said image date is a three dimensional image data saidimage data comprises an external and internal structure of the object.

In an embodiment, the data is displayed at said portable device display.

In an embodiment, the sensing unit is releasable from the portablesystem.

In an embodiment, the sensing unit is configured to scan the object.

In an embodiment, the sensing unit is movable with respect to theobject.

In an embodiment, the sensing unit is linearly movable or rotationallymovable with respect to the object.

In an embodiment, the object is movable with respect to the sensingunit.

In an embodiment, the portable device is a portable cellular telephone.

In an embodiment, the RF signals are selected from the group consistingof: pulse signals, stepped-frequency signals and chirp signals.

In an embodiment, said wideband electromagnetic transducer arraycomprises a layer of matching material for improved coupling of theelectromagnetic transducers radiation to said object.

According to a second aspect of some embodiments of the presentinvention there is provided a portable sensing system, the systemcomprising: a portable device housing configured to be carried by auser; and a sensing unit within said housing configured to characterizean object located in proximity to the portable system, said sensing unitcomprising: wideband antenna array unit said array unit comprising aplurality of antennas; a transmitter unit for generating a plurality ofmicrowave signals to said antenna array; and a receiver unit forreceiving reflected microwave signals from said antenna array unit.

In an embodiment, the portable sensing system comprising a capacitivesensor for characterizing the object, wherein said object is placed onsaid capacitive sensor surface.

In an embodiment, said capacitive sensor comprises a plurality of feedlines and a plurality of receive lines wherein the plurality of feedlines are coupled to the receive lines through an electromagnetic fieldformed between at least two capacitive sensor plates connected to saidfeed and receive lines to identify or quantitatively characterize theobject wherein said object is located within the formed electromagneticfield.

According to a third aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a portable sensing device, the device comprising: aportable device housing configured to be attached to the portabledevice; and a sensing unit within said housing configured to scan andcharacterize an object located in proximity to the sensing unit, saidsensing unit comprising: a wideband antenna array unit said array unitcomprising a plurality of antennas; a capacitive sensor array; atransmitter unit for generating a plurality of microwave signals to saidantenna array; and a receiver unit for receiving reflected microwavesignals from said antenna array unit.

In an embodiment, the sensor unit is releasable from the portabledevice.

According to a third aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a method for providing microwave imaging functionalityfor a portable device, the method comprising: attaching to said portabledevice a housing, said housing comprising: a sensing unit said sensingunit comprises a wideband electromagnetic transducer array said arraycomprising a plurality of electromagnetic transducers; a transmitterunit for applying RF (radio-frequency) signals to said electromagnetictransducer array; and a receiver unit for receiving a plurality ofcoupled RF signals from said electromagnetic transducers array; a dataacquisition unit; capturing microwave image data by said sensing unit;and transmitting the microwave image data to the portable device.

In an embodiment the method comprising presenting said image data atsaid portable device display.

According to a fourth aspect of some embodiments of the presentinvention, there is provided a portable sensing system comprising: ahousing configured to be attached to a portable device and a sensingunit within the housing, the sensing unit is configured to providemicrowave data of an object.

In an embodiment, said sensing module is a MIMO radar module.

In an embodiment, the MIMO radar module comprises a wideband antennaarray connected to a transmitter/receiver unit, and saidtransmitter/receiver unit is configured to generate microwave signals tosaid antenna array.

In an embodiment, said antenna array comprises a plurality of receiveantenna and transmit antennas.

In an embodiment, said antennas may be selected from a group consistingof: flat spiral antennas, printed log periodic antennas, sinuousantennas, patch antennas, multilayer antennas, slot antennas

In an embodiment, said sensing system comprises capacitive sensor unitconfigured to characterize said object.

Prior to the detailed specification of the invention being set forth itmay be helpful to set forth definitions of certain terms that will beused hereinafter.

The term “electromagnetic transducer” as used herein and through thespecification and claims should be understood to encompass a unit ordevice which couples the electromagnetic energy to the surroundings ofthe transducer and may comprise, among other, both antennas andcapacitive sensor such as capacitive sensor plates.

The term “Radio Frequency ” as used herein and through the specificationand claims should be understood to encompass microwave portion of thespectrums and above, such as millimeter-wave and sub-millimeter-waveradiation.

The term “couple” or “coupling” as used herein and through thespecification and claims should be understood to encompass wave signalsbeing reflected from a substance or an object such as an object undertest, and the electric field coupled between capacitive sensor platesthrough the medium composing the object under test.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms usedherein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used inthe practice or testing of embodiments of the invention, exemplarymethods and/or materials are described below. In case of conflict, thepatent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition,the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are notintended to be necessarily limiting.

Implementation of the method and/or system of embodiments of theinvention can involve performing or completing selected tasks manually,automatically, or a combination thereof. Moreover, according to actualinstrumentation and equipment of embodiments of the method and/or systemof the invention, several selected tasks could be implemented byhardware, by software or by firmware or by a combination thereof usingan operating system.

For example, hardware for performing selected tasks, according toembodiments of the invention, could be implemented as a chip or acircuit. As software, selected tasks according to embodiments of theinvention could be implemented as a plurality of software instructionsbeing executed by a computer using any suitable operating system. In anexemplary embodiment of the invention, one or more tasks according toexemplary embodiments of method and/or system as described herein, areperformed by a data processor, such as a computing platform forexecuting a plurality of instructions. Optionally, the data processorincludes a volatile memory for storing instructions and/or data and/or anon-volatile storage, for example, a magnetic hard-disk and/or removablemedia, for storing instructions and/or data. Optionally, a networkconnection is provided as well. A display and/or a user input devicesuch as a keyboard or mouse are optionally provided as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter disclosed may best be understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when read with the accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1A is schematic view of a sensing system attached to or mounted ona mobile device, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1B depicts the sensing system including a capacitive sensor,according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1C depicts the sensing system including a microwave sensor andcapacitive sensor, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a depiction of the of the sensing system topology, accordingto an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3A is a flow chart showing the process of identifying a materialvia a portable device sensing system, according to an embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 3B-3C show a number of exemplary uses of the microwave sensormounted on the mobile device, according to some embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the process of identifying quantitativequalities of an object, through the use of capacitive sensors attachedto a mobile device, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate a number of exemplary uses of the microwave sensormounted on the mobile device, according to other embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 9, is a flow chart that shows the steps of an object sensingprocedure carried out by a mobile device, according to some embodimentsof the invention; and

FIG. 10 illustrate an exemplary sensing results of an object displayedon a portable device screen, according to some embodiments of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to microwave or RF sensors and morespecifically, but not exclusively, to microwave or RF sensors forportable devices. According to some embodiments of the invention amicrowave sensor transmits microwaves towards a detection area andsenses an object within that area through the reflection and modulationof the microwaves, for example by a Doppler effect from said objectlocated in the detection area. Uses for this type of sensor range frommotion-detection devices to biotechnology.

The present embodiments further provide a sensor system, device or unitthat may be attached or incorporated into a portable device. Accordingto one embodiment, the sensor system may include electromagnetictransducer such as a radar for microwave imaging and/or sensing of amedium or object under test (OUT). The radar may include an antennaarray for enhanced imaging or sensing the OUT. According to anotherembodiment, the sensor system may include electromagnetic transducer inthe form of one or more capacitive sensors or probes configured to senseand/or detect and/or image one or more materials existing within theOUT. According to another embodiment the sensor system may identify abody or substance approaching the sensor system and may alert oridentify the type of the object approaching the sensor system. It is tobe understood that both antennas and capacitive sensor fall within thescope of “electromagnetic transducer”.

The sensor system may further include a transmitter unit and a receiverunit for applying and receiving accordingly RF (radio-frequency) signalsor coupled RF signals to or from the electromagnetic transducer. The RFsignals may be wideband or ultra-wideband signals.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement of thecomponents and/or methods set forth in the following description and/orillustrated in the drawings and/or the examples. The invention iscapable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out invarious ways.

Microwave Radar Imaging

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a sensing unit 130configured to be attached or included in a device such as a portabledevice 120. According to some embodiments, the portable device 120 maybe a handheld device or a handheld computer such as a mobile telephone,a smart phone, a tablet computing device, a laptop computing device, apersonal digital assistant, a visible light camera, a personal videodevice or a music player, personal media player, global positioningsystem navigational device, pager, portable gaming device or any otherappropriate mobile device known in the art. For example, the sensingunit 130 may be configured to capture, characterize, process, and/oridentify, or define an object such as OUT and provide an identificationresults relating to the OUT to the portable device 120 for use in anydesired fashion (e.g., for further processing, to store in memory, todisplay, to use by various applications running on the portable device120, to export to other devices, or other uses).

In one embodiment, the sensor unit 130 may be a multi-layer structureimplemented at least part with printed circuit board techniques usingappropriate dielectric materials. Commonly used materials areglass-epoxy, Teflon-based materials. Layers of high-dielectric-constantmaterials can be incorporated in order to match the antennas tomaterials under test.

The sensing unit 130 may include or may be connected to atransmit/receive subsystem 104, a data acquisition subsystem 106, a dataprocessing unit 108 and a console 110.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sensing system 130 mayinclude one or more antennas such as antenna array 102. For example theantenna array 102 may include multiple antennas 102 a-102 e typicallybetween a few and several dozen (for example 30) antennas. The antennascan be of many types known in the art, such as printed antennas,waveguide antennas, dipole antennas or “Vivaldi” broadband antennas. Theantenna array can be linear or two-dimensional, flat or conformal to theregion of interest.

According to some embodiment of the invention the antenna array 102 maybe an array of flat broadband antennae, for example spiral shapedantennae. The antenna array 102 may include a layer of matching materialfor improved coupling of the antenna radiation to the materials orobjects under test. The unique and optimized shape of the antenna array,enables their use in limited sized mobile devices, such as a thin,small-sized smart phone or tablet. In addition, the use of an antennaarray made as flat as possible, for example in a printed circuit, allowsfor the linkage of the sensing unit 130 to any mobile device known inthe art, as it does not take up much space in the mobile device, it isnot cumbersome, nor does it add significant weight to the portabledevice 120.

The transmit/receive subsystem 104 is responsible for generation of themicrowave signals, coupling them to the antennas 102 a-102 e, receptionof the microwave signals from the antennas and converting them into aform suitable for acquisition. The signals (e. g. RF signals) can bepulse signals, stepped-frequency signals, chirp signals and the like.The generation circuitry can involve oscillators, synthesizers, mixers,or it can be based on pulse oriented circuits such as logic gates orstep-recovery diodes. The conversion process can include downconversion, sampling, and the like. The conversion process typicallyincludes averaging in the form of low-pass filtering, to improve thesignal-to-noise ratios and to allow for lower sampling rates. Thetransmit/receive subsystem 104 can perform transmission and receptionwith multiple antennas at a time or select one transmit and one receiveantenna at a time, according to a tradeoff between complexity andacquisition time.

The data acquisition subsystem 106 collects and digitizes the signalsfrom the transmit/receive subsystem 104 while tagging the signalsaccording to the antenna combination used and the time at which thesignals were collected. The data acquisition subsystem will typicallyinclude analog-to-digital (A/D) converters and data buffers, but it mayinclude additional functions such as signal averaging, correlation ofwaveforms with templates or converting signals between frequency andtime domain.

The data processing unit 108 is responsible for converting the collectedsignals into a set of responses characterizing the OUT, and performingthe algorithms for converting the sets of responses, for example intoimage data.

An example of algorithm for converting the sets of responses may be forexample Delay and Sum (DAS) algorithm.

The DAS algorithm for reconstructing an image from impulse responses ofthe medium is well-known, and is used here as a reference. For eachpoint r in some designated volume in the three dimensional space, andfor each antenna element pair (from antenna element i to antenna elementj) the expected delay T_(ij)(r) from antenna element i to point r andback to antenna element j is calculated, considering the propagationvelocity through the medium (which is assumed to have known electricalproperties). Then the reconstructed image at location r is created bysumming the estimated impulse responses of each pair i,j after shiftingthem by delay T_(ij)(r), i.e.

s(r)=Σ_(ij) h _(ij)(T _(ij)(r))   (1)

-   -   where the summation is over all antenna element pairs.

Assuming a reflector exists at point r then we expect a positive pulseto exist at position Tij(r) in all, or most, pairs, creating highintensity of the reconstructed image at this point.

DAS assumes the responses h_(ij)(t) refer to the impulse response of themedium under test. However since the components involved in themeasurement have responses varying in frequency and space, the directmeasurement involves a combination of the medium response and theresponse of these components. The antenna elements used for transmissionand reception proposes are usually of a high-pass nature, not beingcapable of transmitting very low frequencies. The frequency response oftransmission/receive microwave circuits may exhibit variations due toproduction, aging, and temperature, and it is preferable to measure thatresponse and take it into account.

Typical image reconstruction algorithms (such as DAS) assume perfectantenna elements, and therefore the above effects are compensated forbefore applying the reconstruction algorithm, e.g. by dividing thefrequency response obtained from the measurement by the known frequencyresponse of the components. As mentioned previously, thispre-calibration compensation is sub-optimal as it amplifies noise, anddoes not take into account that some antenna elements at somefrequencies see a target better than others, nor does it apply tolocation-dependent amplitude and phase shift variations.

Examples for such algorithms may be found in US Patent ApplicationPublication No. US20140066757, entitled “WIDEBAND RADAR WITHHETEROGENEOUS ANTENNA ARRAYS” which application is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

According to one context of the invention described herein, unit 108 isresponsible for Doppler processing as well, in which changes in theresponse over time are taken into account along with the responseitself. The data processing unit is usually implemented as ahigh-performance computing platform, based either on dedicated DigitalSignal Processing (DSP) units, general purpose CPUs, or, according tonewer trends, Graphical Processing Units (GPU). In some embodiments, theacquisition unit and/or processing unit may be connected to othersensors and integrate the data from those sensors to construct theimages, as will be further shown in FIGS. 3-5.

A final step in the process is making use of the resulting image, eitherin the form of visualization, display, storage, archiving, or input tofeature detection algorithms. This step is exemplified in FIG. 1A asconsole 110. The console in a mobile device is typically implemented asa handheld computer such as a mobile telephone or a table computer withappropriate application software.

According to system type, the computer can be stationary, laptop,tablet, palm or industrial ruggedized. It should be understood thatwhile FIG. 1A illustrates functional decomposition into processingstages, some of those can be implemented on the same hardware (such as acommon processing unit) or distributed over multiple (such as graphicalprocessing unit, GPU) and even remote pieces of hardware (such as in thecase of multiprocessing or cloud computing).

According to one embodiment of the invention, subsystems 106, 108 and110 may be part of the sensing unit or the portable device 120, as shownin FIG. 1A. Alternatively the sensing unit 130 may be included within ahousing 125 such as case or a jacket configured to be releasable (i.e.connected or disconnected) to the portable device 120. For example thesensing system 130 may include the antenna array unit 102 and thetransmit/receive-subsystem 130 may be part of the housing 125 which iselectrically or wirelessly connected to the portable device 120, forexample through a dedicated connection such a USB connection, wirelessconnection or any connection known in the art.

Following the connection of the sensor unit 130 to the portable device,the sensor unit 130 may utilize the portable device's own dataacquisition, data processing display, storage and analysis subsystems.

Capacitive Sensor

According to one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1B a sensor system 160 mayinclude a capacitive sensor such as an array capacitive sensor 150configured to sense an OUT located in proximity or on the sensing systemsurface. For example, the OUT may be liquid or ointment and the sensorsystem 150 may identify the components (e.g. the type and amount) foundwithin a drop/particle of the liquid or ointment sprayed for example bya portable device user on the sensor system 160 incorporated in hispersonal portable device. The results identified by the sensor system160 may be further displayed on the user's portable device display.

According to one embodiment the capacitive array sensor 150 may includea number of sensing lines such as feed lines 154 which may be organizedin a structure of, but not limited to a grid. Additionally, the arraysensor 150 may include a plurality of sensing plates at the surface ofthe sensor, connected to the feed lines 154. Each of the feed lines iscoupled to one or more corresponding receive lines through anelectromagnetic field formed between at least two plates connected tosaid lines, to identify and/or quantitatively characterize an objectlocated within the formed electromagnetic field. In one embodiment, thesensor 150 may include a number of layers, where the feed lines 152,such as the column and row feed lines are placed in separate layers, andare connected to the sensing plates through vertical metalized holes(e.g. vias) interconnecting the layers. In some embodiments, a pluralityof ground layers are located between and around the layers thusseparating (e.g. screening) the row feed lines, the column fed lines,the sensing plates, and possibly the back-side of the capacitive arraysensor 150, from each other. A detailed description of sensor 150 isillustrated in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 1B the capacitive array sensor 150 may be connected tothe transmit/receive subsystem 104 for generation of signals to thecapacitive sensors

FIG. 1C illustrates a sensor system 170 comprising two types of sensors:an antenna array sensor 175 configured to identify OUT located remotelyfrom the sensor module 170 and a capacitive sensor 178 configured toidentify OUT located in proximity or at the near-field of the sensorsystem.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2 which illustrates an exemplary topologyof a sensing system 200 including a plurality of capacitive sensorsaccording to one embodiment of the invention. The sensing system 200 maybe implemented, for one or more embodiments, with a small form factorand in accordance with wafer level packaging techniques or otherpackaging techniques, for example. The sensing system 200 may be amulti-layer structure implemented at least in part using a material sucha glass-epoxy or a Teflon based PCB material.

Definitions:

-   White lines 202-216: are row feed lines/boards (e.g. “layer 1”);-   Black lines/boards/boards 201-215: are column feed lines/boards    (e.g. “layer 2”);-   Black circles and gray circles/rings: are row/column sensing plates,    typically located at the top layer of the sensing system 200;-   Small white circles 280 are vias interconnecting the layers;-   Black circles 290 indicate vias interconnecting all the ground    planes;-   Gray circles 220 indicate the “sensing as areas” created by    corresponding pairs of row/column excitation/sensing;

In one embodiment, the sensing system 200 may be a PCB 201 (PrintedCircuit Board) including a plurality of layers, for example 6 layers. In“layer 1” the PCB 201 includes a plurality of “excitation” feed lines202-216 which are orthogonal to a plurality of “sensing” feed lines202-216 located for example in the PCB 201 “layer 2”. Feed lines 202-216may be activated by a touch of an object and may further activate/excite“sensing” feed lines 201-215 (i.e. the green lines are stimulated andthe red lines are sensed). For example feed lines 202-216 and lines201-215 play include, respectively, a plurality of sensing plates 250and 260 located at the PCB 201 top layer and are configured to sense anobject located in their proximity or in contact with them.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sensitive areas between the sensing plates 250and 260 are marked in circles 220. Circles 220 indicate the “sensingareas” created by corresponding pairs of row/column feed lines 202-216and 201-215. For example, if one were to place an object between twosensing plates, for example between plates 201 and 204, the passagewaybetween them, situated in circle 222, will be affected by the material.

For example the dripping of a drop of a material on PCB 201 in aparticular area of the sensing system, for example in circle 222, willaffect the capacitance level between the two neighboring ‘sensingplates’. A change in the size of the passage between two sensing platesrelates to the attachment capacitance between the two sensing plates(e.g those drawn in black and those drawn in gray, for example 250 and260). A passageway between each pair of sensing plates is affected bythe material found between them. This means that the area close to theiroverlapping region (they are not actually overlapping as there is aspace between them) will affect their electromagnetic capacitivecoupling. The uniqueness of the topology presented in FIG. 2 is that it,enables to quantitatively characterize, specifically with “highresolution”, an object placed on the PCB 201 by each of the indicatedareas which marked by circles 222 via stimulating a particular redelement and receiving through a particular green element.

The main advantages of the sensing system 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 areas follows:

A. The elements (e.g. capacitive sensing plates) in each row and in eachcolumn have separate feed lines for the odd numbered and even numberedelements, allowing double the resolution compared to the case in whichall the elements in a row are connected together. In other words, whileaccording to prior art topology a system including for example N*Nsensors, will not provide N² measurements, but rather 2N² measurementssince there is no separation between the sensing areas (as all thesensors are connected to the same feed line), according to the presentinvention topology, each “sensing plate” is independent, allowing eachcapacitive sensor to sense autonomously an object located in itsproximity.

B. The capacitive sensor is formed in a grid structure where a singlefeed line (i.e. feed lines 202) may simultaneously excite a plurality offeed lines (i.e. feed lines 201-215).

C. The “high resolution measurement topology” presented hereinabove,allows for quantitative measurements with high resolution using arelatively small sized PCB. For example the PCB may be 10×10 mm to 30×30mm size.

D. The screening of respective lines, enables an accurate “highresolution” quantitative sensing of dielectric properties versuslocation. In other words, according to prior art solution informationrelating to an object placed on a sensor relates only to specificsensing zones e.g. the location of a drop of water placed on a sensorcould be located, but not details of the water itself (i.e. is it saltyor not).

Portable Device Sensing Methods

Reference is now made to FIG. 3A, which is a flow chart showing aprocess of identifying an OUT via a portable device sensing system. Step310 includes attaching a sensor system or unit, such as sensor system150 or 160 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B placed for example on the back of amobile device, to the OUT, to characterize the OUT inside. For examplethe portable device 130 may be attached to a vegetable or a fruit tocharacterize identify and locate an organic material found inside thevegetables or fruit.

Step 320 includes measuring the antenna array “transmission function”which includes measuring various combinations of transmitting andreceiving antennas. For example the “transmission function” process iscarried out by intermittently transmitting a signal from one antenna andreceiving a signal by one or more of the antennas in order tocharacterize the OUT located in front of the antenna array. Step 330includes restoring the properties of the OUT, based on the OUT returnssignals and step 340 includes displaying the OUT structure, for exampleon the screen of a mobile device as shown. For example, FIGS. 3B and 3Cillustrate application of a MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) radarsystem incorporated in a tablet for the examination of a woman's breast.In this illustration, the antenna array 102 is coupled to the breast.The antennas 102 a-102 e of the array 102 are situated in a conformalcup-like shape. The purpose of the MIMO radar system in such applicationis typically to search for malignant tumors.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the sensor system, suchas sensor system 150 or 160 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B are configured toscan (e.g. scan may be defined as relative motion between the sensor andthe DUT for example the sensing unit may be movable with respect to theobject or sensing unit is linearly movable or rotationally movable withrespect to the object or the object is movable with respect to thesensing unit) a DUT and provide a detailed image of the DUT such as a 3D(three dimensional) image (e.g. providing a physical measurements of theDUT onto a computer in an organized manner). The image may include theexternal and internal structure of the DUT such as its void and/or wallthickness. For example the DUT may be a cup or a human organ or anytangible object and a user may scan the DUT placed in proximity to hismobile devise. The user may surround the DUT and scan the DUT frommultiple angles, for example the DUT may be placed on a rotating stageand the user may scan the object from multiple angles, alternatively theuser may simply move his mobile device sensors and surround the DUT. Inthe case of a flat object, such as a wall, the mobile device sensor canbe moved along the wall in order to scan a larger area. The image may bedisplayed on the mobile device display and may be further printed ormanufactured using manufacturing techniques known in the art such as 3Dprinting.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 2, the mobile device may further include,one or more capacitive sensors configured to characterize the inside ofan OUT. For example, to identify a material, such as the ingredients ofa drug in real-time to see if the drug is real or fake, a capacitivesensors may be used to expose and characterize quantitatively theproperties of the material, i.e. the properties of the drug. Thecapacitive sensors (as described in detail in FIG. 2), in contrast tothe use of the sensory antennae, do not identify objects from adistance, rather it includes a number of sensing feed lines, whosepurpose is to create an electromagnetic field toward the nearby lines,and via the use of the sensing lines, to characterise the materialattached to the lines. For example, drug ingredients may be identifiedby dripping a drop from the drug on the sensor array surface.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the process of identifying quantitativequalities of an OUT, through the use of capacitive sensors incorporatedor attached to a portable device.

The identifying process begins in step 410, which includes attaching ofplacing the OUT on the sensor. For example, this step can be donethrough the sprinkling of a drop of the OUT on either a sensor's probesurface or on electrode surface, which are located for example on theback of a portable device. Step 420 includes reading the electromagnetictransmission function of the sensor's feed lines (i.e. functionalmeasurement of the transmission between the capacitive sensor feed linesand the OUT) and step 430 includes restoring the OUT properties. Step440, includes comparison the receive results in step 430 to the expectedvalues from a reference material. For example, a user can download fromthe internet or via values provided by a pharmaceutical company on a‘cloud’ to find out the expected values of the standard drug. Later on,the processing unit, for example of the mobile device or the externalunit communicating with the mobile device will compare them to theresults found in the test. Alternatively, the standard material's datacan be saved in a storage compartment in the mobile device.

In step 450 the results of the test are displayed, for example if thedrug is real or fake. Alternatively or additionally, one can display theresults or the deviations on a screen. For example, the user can displaythat in a particular drug or material, abnormal components of aparticular substance were found.

As stated in the flowcharts, one use of the sensors has been describedregarding sensors mounted on a mobile device. The present inventionincludes many other uses and diverse applications of the mobile sensorswhich are described below.

FIG. 5 describes use of a mobile device including the sensor system, forexample as described in FIG. 1A, to be used as a warning signallingdevice for a vehicle that is too close, in prevention of trafficaccidents.

For example, as described in FIG. 5, a mobile device user may installhis mobile device 500 like a cellular phone on a car's dashboard. Themobile device may include sensory unit 510 airing RF 550 which cancharacterize and identify bodies approaching the vehicle. For example,if a vehicle is approaching closer than a specified distance defined inadvance, a warning will appear on the display of the device. Inaddition, the mobile device could be attached to the vehicle, andautomatically lower the speed until the car brakes, at the instant itsenses immediate danger.

FIG. 6 describes the use of a mobile device including a sensing unitsuch as sensing system 150 illustrated in FIG. 1B to test if fruits andvegetables have pesticides on them. For example, one can place thedevice 600 on produce 620 so that the surface of the sensing system 610is touching it directly. As described in FIG. 4, the functional readingof the electromagnetic transmission between the sensor's lines/boardsand on produce 620. This reading is then compared to reference data andthe results displayed, for example on the mobile device's monitor 630.

FIG. 7 describes the use of a mobile device including a sensing unitsuch as sensing system 130 illustrated in FIG. 1A to act as an alarm tobe mounted on the front door 720 of a house or other place of residence.One can install a mobile device 700 on the door. This mobile device mayinclude sensor unit 710 airing radio waves 740 which can characterizeand identify bodies 730 approaching the door.

FIG. 8 depicts the use of a mobile device including the sensing system130, to test whether an article of jewellery is fake or real. Forexample, once can place the device 800 near the jewellery 830 so thatthe sensing system 810 can read out the properties of the jewellery.After comparing the properties to a reference, a result is displayed onthe screen 820.

Reference is now made to FIG. 9, which is a simplified flow chart thatshows steps of an object sensing procedure carried out by a mobiledevice comprising a microwave radar and/or a capacitive sensor andmodified to make provide images or sensing result of the object. Thesteps identified in FIG. 9 (and the order thereof) are exemplary and mayinclude various alternatives, equivalents, or derivations thereofincluding but not limited to the order of execution of the same. Thesteps of the method of FIG. 9 (and its various alternatives) may beembodied in hardware or software including a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium (e.g., an optical disc or memory card)having instructions executable by a processor of a computing device. Auser may launch or activate the method of FIG. 9 by opening oractivating an application in a computing device such as a mobile device.

At step 910 a user, such as a mobile phone user, selects a purpose forusing the sensor or a desired object need to be identified. The user mayselect an option from a list of categories listed in box 920 such as,but not limited to, health testing 921, alarm testing 922, contenttesting 923 or drywall testing 924. At the next step 930, the user mayselect a more specific option according to a sub-category. For example,the alarm system category 922, may have subcategories for various typesof alarms such as but not limited to motor vehicle 934 or home 935, orthe health testing category 921, may have subcategories for varioustypes of health tests such as but not limited to fat percentage 936 orgrowth or tumour assessment 937.

In step 940 once the user selects the category and/or sub-category, hewill be asked to place the mobile device or the object accordingly andthen activate it. For example, when testing what is behind a drywall924, after making his selection and being prompted, the user will placethe mobile device 941 near the wall. When used as a car alarm 934, theuser will place the mobile device on the dashboard 944. To test a liquid933, the user will place a drop on the sensor. In one embodiment of theinvention the user may activate the sensor through pressing a button onthe mobile device after placement of the device close to or on theobject to be tested.

After activation of the sensor, the test requested by the user isperformed. The correct sensor will be implicated based on the testselection. For example, for a pharmaceutical drug testing 931, acapacitive sensor, such as capacitive sensor 170 shown in FIG. 1C willbe used, whereas if testing what is behind a drywall 924, the microwaveradar, such as radar 175 will be used.

In one embodiment of the invention the user can decide on the assessmenttype, in step 950, for example whether or not he or she wishes aprofessional 952 or layman's 951 assessment of the test, for examplewhen testing what is behind a drywall.

In step 960, the results are displayed on the mobile device's interface,for example but not limited to a mobile device's screen, as depicted inFIG. 10. In one embodiment of the invention, in step 970 the userdecides what to do with the results. In one embodiment of the invention,the user has the option of sending the results to his or her doctor 973.In another embodiment of the invention, the user has the option ofsaving the results 971, for example but not limited to a cloud. Inanother embodiment of the invention, the user has the option ofcomparing the results to previous results or other references 972, forexample when using to test body fat percentage or a stored reference tocompare standards of a drug.

In FIG. 10 the mobile device's interface is depicted. The mobile device1000 is comprised of the device itself, the sensor 1010 and theinterface 1020 on which the output of the results is displayed. Theexample in FIG. 10 demonstrates a possible result while performing aliquid identification test 933.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including”, “having”and their conjugates mean “including but not limited to”. This termencompasses the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”.

As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include pluralreferences unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, forclarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or inany suitable sub-combination or as suitable in any other describedembodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the contextof various embodiments are not to be considered essential features ofthose embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without thoseelements.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modificationsand variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scopeof the appended claims.

All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in thisspecification are herein incorporated in their entirety by referenceinto the specification, to the same extent as if each individualpublication, patent or patent application was specifically andindividually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. Inaddition, citation or identification of any reference in thisapplication shall not be construed as an admission that such referenceis available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent thatsection headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarilylimiting.

1. A portable device comprising: a portable device housing configured tobe carried by a user; and a sensing unit within said housing configuredto characterize an object, said sensing unit comprising: an antennaarray sensor comprising a plurality of electromagnetic antennas and acapacitive sensor; a transmitter unit for applying RF (radio-frequency)signals to said plurality of electromagnetic antennas and to saidcapacitive sensor; and a receiver unit for receiving RF signals fromsaid plurality of electromagnetic antennas and from said capacitivesensor; and at least one processor, wherein the at least one processoris configured to: activate one or both of said electromagnetic antennasand said capacitive sensor according to the user's one or moreapplication categories selection; convert the RF signals into a set ofresponses said responses are configured to characterize the object; andconvert the set of responses into data.
 2. The portable device accordingto claim 1, wherein the one or more application categories comprisecontact and noncontact application categories.
 3. The portable deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the antenna array sensor is configured tobe activated upon said noncontact application category selection.
 4. Theportable device according to claim 2, wherein the capacitive sensor isconfigured to be activated upon said contact application categoryselection.
 5. The portable device according to claim 2, wherein theprocessor is configured to process both said contact and noncontactapplication categories.
 6. The portable device according to claim 5,wherein said contact and noncontact application categories are selectedfrom the group consisting of: health testing; alarm testing; contenttesting; drywall testing.
 7. The portable device according to claim 1,wherein said plurality of electromagnetic antennas are selected from agroup consisting of: flat spiral antennas, printed log periodicantennas, sinuous antennas, patch antennas, multilayer antennas,waveguide antennas, dipole antennas, slot antennas, Vivaldi broadbandantennas.
 8. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein saidobject is located within a formed electromagnetic field.
 9. The portabledevice according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensor is formed asa grid structure.
 10. The portable device according to claim 1,comprising a data acquisition unit for collecting and digitizing said RFsignals.
 11. The portable device according to claim 10, wherein the dataacquisition unit is configured to tag the RF signals according to theplurality of electromagnetic antennas combination and the time at whichthe RF signals were collected.
 12. The portable device according toclaim 1, wherein said data is image data.
 13. The portable deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein said image data is three dimensionalimage data.
 14. The portable device according to claim 13 wherein saidthree dimensional image data comprises an external and internalstructure of the object.
 15. The portable device according to claim 1,wherein the data is displayed at said portable device display.
 16. Theportable device according to claim 1, wherein the sensing unit isreleasable from the portable device.
 17. The portable device accordingto claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is configured to scan the object.18. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the sensing unitis movable with respect to the object.
 19. The portable device accordingto claim 1, wherein the portable device is a portable cellulartelephone.
 20. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the RFsignals are selected from the group consisting of pulse signals,stepped-frequency signals and chirp signals.